Wellington Racing Club’s Spring Meeting

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 175, 30 November 1893, Page 5

Wellington Racing Club’s Spring Meeting

SECOND DAY.

On Saturday the afternoon was fine and warm up to half-past four, when it clouded over, and a few drops of rain fell but nothing more, and everyone got home comfortably. The attendance was larger than on the first day, numbering about 2000, and the amount put through the machine was proportionally increased, totalling This made the total for the meeting which is exactly £ 700 less than last year’s. Proceedings on Saturday started with the Waiwetu Handicap, seven furlongs. Six starters appeared at the post. Backers rushed Banner, 8.2, and Busybody, 7.0, who had to declare jibs over to enable G. Reed to ride her, was second favourite. Sea Serpent again showed great speed, and approaching the home turn looked like winning, but here he ran very wide losing his advantage, and letting up Busybody and Musket. The last named came very strong in the straight and won comfortably from the unlucky Busybody, who was a length ahead of the favourite with Sea Serpent close up.

The Hurdle Handicap was topped by Unity, 10.12, Waterbury having declined to accept, and so included nothing high class. Unity was favourite, and Viola 11., 9.11, was second in demand. The ex-hack Langley the Devil, who was nicely suited with only 9.10, went to the front at the start, and stalling off the successive challenges of Jacob, Unity, and Eclipse, got home with a bit in hand in the fair time of 2min 57£ec. The Hack Hurdles brought six to the post, and Pumau, 10.6, was made a slightly better favourite than his stable companion Slavegirl, 10.2. Backers were fairly in the mire this time, for Vivacious, who is a grey gelding of very indifferent antecedents and only carried 19 investors out of 303 in the machine, went to the front when the flag fell, and following Langely the Devil’s example, never allowed himself to be headed. Those who backed him got the remunerative dividend of 3s. Pumau was a good second and Slavegirl third.

Then followed the November Handicap, for which Musket, 8.5, was scratched, leaving five starters, of which Krina, 7.10, was decidedly the pick, and carried as many investments as all the others put together. At the start it looked a good race for three-quarters of a mile, but then Krina asserted herself, and it was all over. Revolt was second and Dreamland third.

The Welter Handicap brought out all the six coloured on the card, but backers again spotted the good thing in the top weight Musket, 10.0, who fairly smothered his field when it came to racing, and won very easily from Scot Free, 9.11, whose best go at the meeting it was.

The Petone Handicap, five furlongs, looked a good thing for Banner, 8.8, on his Shorts form the previous day. Swordbelt, 8.0, on his previous form, was not fancied, but a few stuck to him, though his party did not back him with half the confidence they showed in him in the race in which he went down. This time, however, he ran up to his proper form. He slipped his field at starting, and keeping well ahead all the way, won easily by a couple of lengths from Banner and Busybody, who ran a dead heat for second place. Swordbelt is by Sword Dance from Necklace, and when well is very fast for any distance up to a mile, which I believe is his tether.

The three-quarter mile Hack Handicap produced a field of nine, and the most favoured candidate was Silent Friend, 8.2. Billy Brown,, who again had the mount on Sedition, took her to the front as soon as the flag fell, and succeeded in getting home about two lengths in front of Delusion, who was closely followed by the top weight Vasco, 8.10, with Silent Friend fourth. The Sedition party this time landed a good stake, their dividend being 17s.

The Consolation Handicap did not create much interest. Only four accepted and either Freelance, 8.7, or Prince Cole, 7.10, was expected to win. Neither, however could foot it with Mr Tancred’s Senator, who, favoured by his light weight, 6.10, made all the running, and got home two lengths in front of Prince Cole.